Vendors And Dog Owners Sought For D.O.G.G.S. Daze Of August Dog Park Fundraiser

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The Town of Granby's dog park volunteers are looking for dog owners, as well as retail and service vendors, to participate in their 9th Annual D.O.G.G.S. Daze of August dog park fundraising event from 12 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25 at Salmon Brook Park. Dogs are welcome to come and enjoy the dog park as well as a swim in the Salmon Brook Pond. For a $50 in-kind donation, any business owner can reserve a tent site and feature their company or services at the event. Non-profit groups are invited to participate for free. In exchange for their participation, all vendors will receive free advertising throughout the year with a link to their website or email address on the dog park's website at http://www.granbydogpark.org. The proceeds from this annual fundraising event benefits Granby's off-leash dog park located in Salmon Brook Park.

As in year's past, admission and parking at this year's event is free. There'll be food, music and entertainment, as well as fun canine activities and off-leash play. Highlighting the day will be the OFF-LEASH CANINE SWIMS in Salmon Brook Pond where, for a small donation, dogs will be allowed to run on the beach and swim in the completely enclosed Salmon Brook Pond on this one special day.

The Granby D.O.G.G.S. Park opened in November 2005, with the official dedication in April 2006, and has become very popular with local and out of town residents. It was the first public off-leash dog park to be opened in the Farmington Valley and has become the benchmark for other towns seeking assistance in establishing their own off-leash parks. The park is open to the public all year long and there is no admission or membership fee to use the off-leash area. The dog park's annual expenses average around $4,500, including dog waste bags and new playground grade mulch each year. The money to cover these expenses is raised solely through private donations and their annual D.O.G.G.S. Daze of August event.

D.O.G.G.S. also needs volunteers to assist in the planning and organization of the event as well as to help out on that Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Anyone interested in getting involved in the planning of the event should contact D.O.G.G.S. through their website. On event day, there are always lots of interesting assignments available and anyone over the age of 16 can volunteer.

If you're interested in participating in the event in anyway, please send an email to DOGGS at granby-ctdogpark@cox.net or call Patt Juliano at 860-653-6909. Vendor applications should be submitted prior to Monday, Aug. 20 in order for the business/organization to be listed on printed event directories and event advertising at the park. Applications received after Aug. 20 will still receive web advertising benefits, however, on-site advertising will be limited due to time constraints.